Following the end of the Civil War, formerly enslaved African-Americans sought to attain full citizenship. In addition to securing voting rights and starting businesses, African-Americans saw education as essential to progress. Primary and secondary schools were created, along with colleges such as the State Normal and Industrial College for Colored Students–known today at Florida A&M University.

Dr. Reginald Ellis, an Associate Professor of History at FAMU, will discuss the state of Black education in post-Civil War Florida and the history of FAMU as observed through the tenure of four of the university’s presidents.

This event is funded by the Florida Humanities Florida Talks: At Home! program.